A young fast bowler from Chandigarh has announced her arrival on the biggest stage of women's franchise cricket with a performance for the ages. Nandani Sharma, playing for Delhi Capitals, created Women's Premier League history on Sunday night in Navi Mumbai by becoming the first bowler to claim a five-wicket haul and a hat-trick in the same match.
A Spell That Shattered Records
In the fourth match of the WPL 2026 season against Gujarat Giants, the 24-year-old right-arm pacer produced a magical spell of 5 wickets for just 33 runs. Her breathtaking performance came at a critical juncture, completely derailing the Giants' innings. The most electrifying moment was a hat-trick taken in a single over, where she cleanly dismantled the opposition's middle and lower order.
The Giants were attempting to build a partnership and gather momentum when Nandani struck. With sheer pace and pinpoint accuracy, she forced errors from the batters, sending the crowd into a frenzy with each falling wicket. The pressure she built was palpable, and by the time her spell ended, she had single-handedly fortified the Delhi Capitals' bowling attack and left the Giants struggling to recover.
The Bowler's Mindset: Simplicity and Variation
Speaking to broadcasters during the mid-innings break, Nandani revealed the thought process behind her historic feat. "I wanted to just bowl at my target," she said. "They (captain Shafali Verma and wicketkeeper Jemimah Rodrigues) were talking to me every ball, and that was my plan - to bowl at the stumps. I did not expect a hat-trick, but the team told me I could get wickets."
She also displayed sharp cricketing intelligence, adapting quickly to the conditions. "After my first over, I noticed that they were hitting my stock ball well. After that, I bowled my variations, and thankfully, it worked," Nandani explained. This ability to analyze and adjust mid-game highlights her maturity as a bowler.
The Journey of a Rising Star
Nandani Sharma was born on September 20, 2001, in Chandigarh. Known for generating bounce and movement with the new ball, she has been on the radar of coaches and scouts for years. Her journey to the WPL spotlight was built on consistent performances in domestic cricket.
She honed her skills representing Chandigarh Women, North Zone, and India B. Her leadership qualities were recognized when she captained the Chandigarh senior team in 2025. Impressive displays at the National Cricket Academy's Emerging Camp finally caught the eye of WPL franchises.
Her big break came at the WPL 2026 auction, where Delhi Capitals secured her services for Rs 20 lakh. She made an immediate impact, taking two wickets on her debut against Mumbai Indians just a day before her historic spell. However, the match against Gujarat Giants has unequivocally marked her arrival as a force to be reckoned with.
This record-shattering performance means batters across the league will now have to prepare specifically for her threat. In Nandani Sharma, Indian women's cricket may have discovered its next premier fast-bowling star, one whose name is now etched permanently in the WPL history books.
